The Hacker

“the HACKER” is an official publication
of the Timex/Sinclair User Group of
Las Vegas-a non profit, educational

organization. Subscription to the I have just received from EMsoft

“HACKER” is $15.00 per year (12
issues) and includes membership to
TSUG of LV. Piease remit to:

divison, their new catalog of
hardware and software. On page 4
of this booklet, was an article of

ik Ralph Hammer (treasurer) ;
2105 Oakwood Ave. interest. It seems that a new machine
Las Vegas, NV 89030 is about to make its debut. Here is

what the article reads:

It is reported that PSION will
produce a fully MS-DOS compatable
portable computer with 640K
on-board static memory, solid state
drives, disk controller port,
EXCHANGE on ROM and a host of
other features in a package the size
and weight of a T/S 2068. Delivery

Meetings are heid on the third

Sunday of each month and include

a light buffet lunch for members & ; j :

guests. The meetings are held at is expected in November 1989, at a

2345 Moorpark Way, Henderson, NV price half that of its nearest
Ee ald A ataa competitor with less features.

BOARD of DIRECTORS: Anyone have any guesses as to

CHRIS FENN------------- 641-4082 E
RALPH HAMMER-------- 649-4127 what it will be?
STEVE SAWCHUK-------- 451-6676

-aur Eraut aE STATO QUOTE OF THE MONTI

STEVE SAWCHUK----- EDITOR IN CHIEF Far away is far away only if you
DAWN SAWCHUK---CO-EDITOR/MAILING don't go there.
RALPH HAMMER-PROGRAM/AD DIRECTOR —
CHRIS FENN---------- ART DIRECTOR
AMY DICKINSOGN---CIRCULATION MGR.

VALDEZ TSUG of LV SAn
PROGRAM TAKES aor
UPDATE: SUMMER ih Wes
Last month I reported that our BREAK
resident magazine collector (Chris by Dawn L. Sav
Fenn) found in an old copy of BYTE == 7 l
Magazine (1981)an adfora As summer approaches, and like
simulation game called "VALDEZ". so many of the members who want
Well since that little story appeared, to enjoy the nice warm (well, in Las
I have received several inquires as Vegas, HOT!) weather, there will be
to the address of that company. So, no July and August meetings for
just in case you are considering such TSUG of LV
a program, here is the address and The poeta however, Will
phone number (if they still are in continue to be printed during these
business): DYNACOMP, INC. months. From all of us on the

1427 Monroe gn “HACKER” staff, we hope you have a
sarin RY 14616 nice summer and look foward to
ORDER PHONE * (716) 586-7579 seeing you at the Sept. meeting. And

24 HRS. please don't forget that our meetings
OFFICE PHONE “ (716)442-8960 have been moved to the third

9-5 PM EST Sunday of each month. See Ya!

onsen Sierra Nevada Airways mathihGan
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2

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INFLATION !!!!!
Here's a neat little program
that Dick F. Wagner, from C/CATS
Newsletter, has produced. The
programs timing wouldn't have come
at a better time with all the talk of
INFLATION!!

The information presented will
cover an inflation period of 45 years
which is about as long as many
people remain employed at an
income generating job.

This program is based on the
formuia, M=1.06°n where M is the
multiplyer that tells you how many
of todays dollars it takes to purchase
the same item “n” years from now
with an average rate of 6% per
annum. If you need to use a different

inflation rate, just change the digits
after the decimal point, such as .08
for 8%. The 6% has been the National
average for the past 20 years, give or
take a little.

The plotted curve will go off the
scale at 6% (so has the economy) but
it will still plot. For a number output

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2866 FOR 5-285 TO 25
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226 NEXT 5: NEXT X
230 FOR Y=28 TO 17@ STEP 18
248 FOR 5-25 TO 29
256 PLOT 5,7
266 HEXT 5: NEXT Y
276 FOR Y=26 TO 176 STEP 5

388 FOR N= TO 25 STEP 5
39@ PRINT AT ZƏ, N42; N2
NEXT H

416 FOR H-8 TO 46 STEP .2
42@ PLOT 2£25+42N,19416.142(1.857

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OH!!!
NO!!!
NOT

the "HACKER" a story about the
GEnie Network rates to
increase. This was going to
occur at the different baud rates.
Well, this story was provided to the
“HACKER” by our co-editor Dawn.
This was not mentioned at the start
of the story. It is not my intentions to
omit the name of a person who
submits information to the
newsletter. My apologizes to our
co-editor for this error.

Z88
HAILED
IN
NATIONAL ¢
PUBLICATION

Two of Byte Magazines leading
writers are hailing the Z86 in the
June “89 issue of BYTE. Jerry
Pournelle and Laurence H. Loeb
are both users of the compact laptop.
And use their machines often when
on assignment. In fact the June issue
carries several photos of Jerry on
assignment at the White House
with Z88 in hand (page 131,
Cambridge North America ad).
Jerry states in his article that the
288 (Sir Zed) was far lighter than
other portables that his co-workers
and writer friends carry and use.
Jerry also goes on to say that even

though the lights were turned down 4

for the use of an over-head
projector, the spill-over was enough
for the LCD screen of the Z88. All in
all, Sir Zed performed heroically.
Jerry is meanwhile learning more
about the machine and its
capabilities.

Laurence Loeb writes about
the Z88 as “A Portable
Companion for the Macintosh”.
Laurence goes on to say that he was
surprised to find about the 286
packaged as a system called MacLite.
He also takes the 788 with him on
trips in the field. He finds
transferring files and figures to the
Macintosh Plus at work is a lot easier
than carrying the Mac-Plus.
Laurance also goes on to say “It's
not a Mac-laptop, but the 288
plugs the gap nicely”.

Both writers are now true believers
in the power of the 288 and so am I.
Maybe some day the 288 will be the
true machine of writers and
journalist alike for its power and size.

A Fathers Day present came early
for me this year. This article was
typed on my very own 288.

PORTABLE LI
DISK DRIVE Oi

AVAILABLE

The most important accessory
you'll ever need for your 288
computer is now available, and like
the 288, it's small, light weight,
portable and affordable!

This little compact disk drive is
powered by only four AA-cell
batteries and works anywhere you
do. no fuss, no problems.

The nice think about this unit is
that storing your files on 3.5 inch
diskettes gives you unlimited data
storage space at an inexpensive, cost
effective price.

The 3.5° disks can each store
up to 200,000 bytes of data in
two banks with a file limit of
64K per file.

And if the drive doesn't receive
any information after 30 minutes,
it shuts itself off, to conserve battery
life. And it also can be used with an
optional AC adapter.

This unit only measures 5.25 by
6.41 by 2.12 inches and weighs
in at a mere lib. 14o0zs.

The PCIC Portabie Disk Drive
comes complete with ZN-DOS
(zen-doss) file management utility
on a standard Z88 EPROM. But it
doesn't require any of your precious
cartridge slots to use it. Instead, just
copy ZN-DOS to any RAM device
and save your slots for more
important things.

The cost of this unit is $349.95
plus $5 S&H. The unit can be
purchased from:

ADVERTISER'S SPECIAL

Sharps,Inc.

Box 362

Mechanicsville, VA 23111

(804) 730-9697
Give them a call if you want more
info on the unit. Visa and
Mastercharge accepted.

The “HACKER” will run for its

commerical readers, a 1/2 page
ad, for six months, for $30. That’s
only $5. per issue. Send your ad's
to the: “HACKER” c/o of this N/L.

788
A TESTIMONIALS
>. KEEP
QSJ PRESSES
<=> ROLLING

More and more 286 articles are
starting to show up in practically
every issue of all the computer
magazines. These articles are being
written by well known writers, who
find the portability, size and length
of battery life, as well as price, a big
factor.

Our resident master 286 user,
Chris Fenn (who happens to be a
IBM-Z88-Mac-QL and any other
type of computer he can get his
hands on user), found another
testimonial in the newest issue of
MacUser Magazine (Juily’89)
written by James Bradbury.
Bradbury says "It's like having a
2-pound Mac wherever you go.” Lets
see more of this kind of applause.

John Sumpolec

Well, here it is the start of a new
column, along with the start of a new
BBS BEAT column writer. I won't
have any pertinent news about the
local BBS's this time, because of
getting such a late start.

I will not have much in this

months column, but a little
background info about myself if you
will bear with me. I have been a
resident of Las Vegas since June of
1955 at which time I went to work at
NELLIS as a Jet Aircraft Technician
(grease monkey). All my life I have
loved private flying and being
around and working on all kinds of
flying machines. I am a Private Pilot
and a licenced A&P Mechanic. I spent
quite a few years with the local Civil
Air Patrol and also the Clark County
Sheriffs Aero Squadron. I retired
from NELLIS in July 1983 and now
have nothing to do but sit behind this
keyboard and stare at my VGA
monitor all day. I got started with
computers in 1983 when I builta
ZX-80 computer that was imported
from England for $200. Then I
graduated to the TIMEX/SINCLAIR
1000 and 2068, of which I still
have and enjoy using. I got into
PC/XT COMP. in Jan. of last year. The
best investment made is when I
bought an internal modem at a

close-out price in May and have been
glued to the telephone ever since. I
get about 4 hours or so a day on the
local BBS's. It's like a drug. You sure
can get addicted to it.

Anyway, by now if you are still
reading this you are probably
wondering what all of the above has
to do with this column. To be truthful
with you, nothing except if you are
like me, you probably might like to
know something about the author of
a column or of an article, so I thought
I would get it out the first thing and
promise never to mention it again. I
want to ask all of you readers that
are interested in BBS's to give me
any information or newsworthy
items that I might use in the column.
You might pick up something of
interest from the National BBS or
Subscription BBS that I can include in
the column. You can leave me a
message on RAIDERS, TECH-ONE or
Weekend Huddle. They are my
three main boards or call me at
home 457-0945 any time. If you
get a busy signal you will know why.
Just try later.

So until later, keep those BBS's
humming and happy computing. BYE!

(Editor's note: John Sumpolec
writes for the “Bytes Magazine”
here in Las Vegas.. John is also
one of the founding fathers of
the TSUG of LV. John now is into
all types of computing. His
column BBS Beat will be a
continuing addition to the
“HACKER”. We welcome John to
the Steff. Look for more
information in his column

6 monthly.)

ee Wy Ree
É) 4a "a *
by....... Ralph Hammer

Happy Birthday to us, happy
birthday to UuB..................... How does
that song go now? Well, another year
has come and gone. Our little group
of “HACKERS” are still meeting once
a month to have some lunch and talk
computerese.

Doesn't seem like five years have
passed by, but then, when you're
having so much fun, who cares about
time.

And to think it all started with
John Sumpoiec placing an ad in the
local paper, and starting a chain
reaction. Within five to six months,
our membership grew to over 35
people. We were meeting in the back
of a furniture store, for the first
couple of months, but with the
growth, we had to find a larger
meeting room. Nevada Power
Company had the perfect location.
plenty of wall outlets and tables. The
only problem was that we had to
share with a Commodore Group each
month.

The newsletter has gone through a
lot too. From typing up the articles on
our favorite WP program, cutting and
pasting for the copier, to working it
up on a publishing program with an
IBM-compatable (where every copy
was an orginal). Now we find
ourselves, five years later, with a

smaller group grathering each month.
Our meeting place is now at the home
of our favorite newsletter

editor /publisher. I guess that we got
too small for such a large meeting
place such as Nevada Power. But
good times and good food await us
each month. Which is the reason why
we still stay together.

It all began so long ago, a man
named Clive Sinclair bringing the
world a computer that everyone
could afford. Timex Corporation
even helped out for awhile. The QL
was a master stroke of genius (at
least for some of us). Now the Z86 is
cooking.

As for me, I'm looking forward to
the next five years.

Got a call the other night from
Herb Bowers, The famous creator of
Money Machine I and II. Seems
he needed someone to taik to. Since it
had been a long time that I had
heard from him, I gladly obliged.

We got the “how are ya's” and
“what cha doin’ now’ stuff out of
the way, then proceeded into the
reason of the call. He was getting a
little discouraged with the way
things were going, and that he was
throwing in the towel, if only for a
short while. As the conversation
drew to a close that evening, he
stated that he would send me a tape.
We said our goodbyes, take cares and

and etc’s. Then replaced the receivers
back on their cradles. A few days
later a package arrived with the mail.
Upon opening the package, Herb had
sent as promised, a letter, two
LLISTings and a tape. The letter
reads as follows:

Dear Raiph,

I'm running a little late, but here
is a copy of my not-so-original
ABBASHI program. As it states in
the on-screen instructions,
ABBASHI was to have stood for
ABBA Soft Hangs In (there).
Now I think that it should have
meant ABBA's had it.

All programs that I have
published under the ABBA Soft
label, prior to 12/31/88,
including both Money Machine
programs, are now placed into
public domain. ABBA SOFT
PRODUCTIONS has at this time,
no pians to publish any new
Timex/Sinclair programs. I will
however from time to time, write a
short program and sumit them to
user's groups. And if they want to
publish them in their newsletters,
they are weicome te ‘em.

If anyone out there has not
received any programs that
they have ordered and paid for,
please let me know. I will send
them a another copy of the the
program they ordered.

Herb.

Due to the space limitations of

this issue of the “HACKER”, we will
publish the ABBASHI program

next month. We all wish Herb the
best, and hope it’s not the last we

hear from him. He’s good people. N

Even though this was the last
meeting before we take a summer
break, the same usual, devoted
four showed up. We devoured a two
foot long sub sandwich complete with
all the trimmings. Then we sat down
to talk computerese and try out new
things. Ralph showed off the
program that Herb Bowers sent.
Chris converted more art for Steve
for his collection for the Newsletter
(which now totals 4,100 peices).

We did however, conduct some
business pertaining to the newsletter
exchanges . It seems that two user's
groups have not been sending any
newsletters to our group. These
groups are the Dallas/ Ft. Worth
User's groups. One group known as
the Westmoreland Group has not
been printing anything related to
Timex/Sinclair. And the other
exchange was Mr Stan Lemke, who
quit the Timex scene all together.

Since these folks are not keeping
up with the exchange policy, The
Board of Directors have voted to not
send any “HACKER” issues in the
future. This might seem harsh but
with such a small group, We have to
cut expenses such as postage.

If at some later date these folks
decide to start up again, then the
"HACKER" will gladly send exchange
copies to the groups.

Our treasurer (Raiph) reported
that the kitty has around $236 and
change. That will keep us going for a
while at least. See ya at our next
meet on Sept. 17th.